Description
Director, Community Relations
Department: Community Relations Reports To: Community Relations Department Executive
Position Summary
The Director of Community Relations provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for Baton Rouge General's community engagement and our Medical Zone school-based partnership with the East Baton Rouge Public School System. This role is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with civic, nonprofit, business, healthcare, and education partners to ensure Baton Rouge General remains informed, engaged, and active in community. This individual will also help ensure our hospital is active in economic development and public health initiatives throughout the areas we serve.
Key Responsibilities
• Build, cultivate, and sustain strategic relationships with civic leaders, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and healthcare partners to strengthen Baton Rouge General's community visibility, trust, intelligence, and engagement.
• Serve as the liaison to the East Baton Rouge Parish School System to strengthen and grow our Medical Zone School Partnership.
• Represent Baton Rouge General at public forums, community meetings, chamber events, and community engagements across East Baton Rouge, Ascension, and Livingston Parishes to keep our hospital active in the region.
• Serve as a key connector between Baton Rouge General and the communities we serve by monitoring and engaging in local educational and economic development initiatives, providing insights that inform organizational strategy.
• Engage employees and hospital leaders in community initiatives, volunteerism, leadership programs (including State and local Chamber Leadership cohorts), and board service opportunities that reinforce our organization's role as a community leader.
• Support the development, writing, implementation, and reporting of the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) to better understand and align community and patient health needs with our organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with internal departments to align outreach efforts with clinical growth and population health strategies.
• Establish measurable goals and metrics to evaluate the success of community engagement outcomes and Medical Zone School success.
Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, healthcare administration, public health, education, or related field required; master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in community relations, healthcare outreach, workforce development, education, or nonprofit leadership.
• Demonstrated success in building and managing strategic partnerships across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Understanding of community health, public health strategy, and healthcare systems.
• Experience working with K-12 education systems, workforce development, or youth engagement programs highly preferred.
• Excellent communication, public speaking, and relationship-building skills.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate data and community insights into actionable programs.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and represent the organization with professionalism.
• Willingness to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends as needed.
Work Environment
Combination of office, community-based, and school-based settings with frequent local travel to meetings, events, and stakeholder engagement.
